Ontogenetic and geographic venom variation in the Great Basin Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus lutosus

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  Ontogenetic and geographic venom variation in the Great Basin Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus lutosus Abstract Venom composition among the species of the Western Rattlesnake clade is often quite variable, depending on several factors such as geographic location and ontogeny. Venom composition not only affects the ability of a snake to acquire prey efficiently, but it can also significantly impact snakebite symptomology. Currently, there has been limited characterization of the venom from the Great Basin Rattlesnake ( Crotalus oreganus lutosus ), a lineage that is broadly distributed in the intermontane western United States. In this study we sample 67 individual Great Basin Rattlesnakes collected in Idaho, Utah, California, and Arizona. We find evidence for substantial ontogenetic and geographic variation in venom composition. Of the six toxin families assessed, all showed ontogenetic shifts to varying extents, with some trends differing from those observed in other rattlesnake sp...

A survey of Hersilia spiders (Araneae, Hersiliidae) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China

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A survey of Hersilia spiders (Araneae, Hersiliidae) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Background

Hersilia Audouin, 1826 is the largest genus of the Hersiliidae Thorell, 1869, currently including 80 extant species that are widespread throughout most of forests of the Tropical realm. The tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna is one of the most biodiversity-rich regions in China. However, Hersilia can be regarded as being poorly represented in Xishuangbanna, with only two recorded species so far.

New information

A survey was undertaken to study the hersiliids in Xishuangbanna. A total of four species are here addressed, raising from two to four the number of species of the genus Hersilia known to the area: H. striata Wang & Yin, 1985 and H. lelabah Rheims & Brescovit, 2004 that were recorded previously and H. asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982 (as well as the new record from Yunnan) and H. sumatrana (Thorell, 1890) that are recorded for the first time. Hersilia lelabah is re-described, based on new materials and the male is described and illustrated for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations for both sexes of H. lelabah are provided. The distribution map of these four species in Xishuangbanna is given.

Yu H, Zhang C, Lu Q, Lin Y (2024) A survey of Hersilia spiders (Araneae, Hersiliidae) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e142805. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e142805